McCoy Moments: Back Track to Christmas 2013 Prep

I'm going back to 2013 to do some catching up. We had a super wonderful & super busy December. Isn't that how it usually goes? This was our first year of doing an advent calendar. If you've never done advent with your family, I highly recommend it. I think I benefited from it just as much as the kids did. We did a simple one called Truth in the Tinsel. I actually won a copy of this from MOPS last year, so we tried it out. You can get it here: truthinthetinsel

Also, this pinterest page has some really neat ideas to go along with it: Pinterest

I wanted to do an advent because its so hard to keep the Christmas season focused on Christ (I'm so guilty of it). I was glad it was a daily thing because it kept us all on track, or brought us back on track I should say, each day.

The kids working on their advent ornaments, and when I say ornaments, I mean ornaments that they colored on paper print outs. We didn't really do all the ornaments that the book suggests you to do.

Even the little guy "participated"

some of their crafts from advent

Recently Zoe taught Max how to write his name. He usually gets it in the right order, but not always. I'm proud of him either way. :)

LOVE Christmas jammies

Christmas Jammies & Dad's hat

The kids decorating their xmas tree. This year we got 2 real trees. 1 small tree for the kids and one for mommy. Yes, I like to have my own!! hehehe. :)

Precious

More sweetness

and then…..

not so precious: Max going for the gold.

I wrapped up all the kids' xmas books and added 2 new ones for the kids to open up every other night so we could read it. They were just as excited about it as they were last year. You may recall: 2012

Another tip: I always box up all the kids' Christmas books, toys/games, DVDs, etc. so they seem extra special when we get them out for the month of December.

All of Daddy's old Christmas ornaments also are on the tree. It was neat to see them all.

I'm impressed his Mom kept them all organized and saved for him.

Zoe & Max worked really hard on their garland lick it strips I purchased at Dollar General's Xmas Sales last year. I think I paid $.25 for 2 packages and they kept the kids super busy. Score!

We danced to Xmas music & watched plenty of Xmas favorites

Bart & I always go on a Christmas Date. Usually that means just going out to dinner & enjoying an evening without kiddos! :)

lately Max has been really into asking for pictures with Mommy all the time. It's kind of funny.

So then ALL the kids wanted in on one.

I was busy painting and stenciling this doll bed for Zoe's cousin Nora for her Christmas gift.

Zoe was busy sewing her first sewing project: A doll blanket to go with. (Don't you love how she picked 2 different ribbons for the trim. That's when you just bite your tongue as a parent & let your kid "be artistic." Sometimes that is hard for me.)

And then I painted & did a fabric modge podge doll bed for my niece, Jaela.

This took WAY longer than I thought it would, but I thought it turned out well.

P.S. I bought the wooden doll beds at IKEA for any of you looking for nice sturdy doll bed to paint or be crafty with. I'm working on one for Zoe now. Stay tuned.

The kids wrote letters to Santa all by themselves. I told them to write more about things they'd like to tell Santa instead of things they want from Santa. Max was hilarious to listen to while he narrated out loud what he was "writing" down in his letter. He told Santa all sorts of random things.